Severe Weather

Rate hike aims to fix issues that cause main breaks

"There goes the driveway, I was hoping it wouldn't be that extensive,” said Lakeview resident Jeff Gosciniak.

Lakeview main break floods Memphis Street

Gosciniak watched a crew literally destroy his driveway to repair a sewer main break he reported Tuesday morning.

"Well it was kind of a surprise about 6 o'clock this morning when we had Niagara Falls going out in front of the street,” he said.

"There was a bit of a smell which seems to have dissipated,” said Heather Valliant.

Crews worked to excavate the site in the 6600 block of Memphis Street in Lakeview. Back in December, the New Orleans City Council passed a rate hike that took effect this year for the next eight years. Customers will see a 10 percent hike, and by 2020, sewerage and water rates are expected to more than double.

"This is why you have a rate hike. This is why we've been coming to you for 20 years dealing with this particular issue. We know what we're dealing with,” said Robert Jackson of the Sewerage and Water Board.

Jackson said the increase generates the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to fix the ailing system damaged by Katrina.

"For one, it's an old system, ravaged by Katrina and salt water. This particular area there was a great deal of salt water and that salt water what it does; it damages it,” said Jackson.

“Eight and half feet of water after Katrina. That puts a lot of pressure on the pipes,” said Gosciniak.

Jackson said major work is scheduled to begin soon to upgrade and replace lines throughout the city.

"The system does need to be repaired and upgraded and we also need our streets repaired and upgraded,” said Valliant.